ot'i.s.u 


Evanston  Public  Library 

Coe  Music  Room  as  described  by 
Karleton  Hackett  in  the 
Chicago  Evening  Post 


THANKS  TO  THE  generosity  of  a lover 
of  music  the  Evanston  Public  Library 
was  enabled  to  try  an  interesting  experi- 
ment in  establishing  a circulating  lib- 
rary of  music,  not  merely  books  about 
music,  but  the  actual  printed  notes.  Five 
years  ago  George  A.  Coe,  of  the  North- 
western University,  endowed  the  music- 
room  of  the  Evanston  library  in  memory 
of  Sadie  Knowland  Coe,  and  “designed 
to  perpetuate  the  work  of  musical  cul- 
ture carried  on  by  her  in  Evanston  for 
twelve  years.”  During  these  five  years 
this  music-room  has  ministered  to  a 
growing  want  in  the  city  to  the  north, 
and  the  experimental  part  has  ceased  to 
be  such,  but  has  become  a recognized 
factor  in  the  library’s  usefulness. 

Five  years  ago  the  mechanical  piano- 
player  was  still  considered  an  inter- 
loper of  more  than  doubtful  respecta- 
bility, and  the  plan  to  install  one  actu- 
ally within  the  precincts  of  a library, 
dedicated  by  immemorial  usage  to  still- 
ness as  of  the  tomb,  caused  much  shak- 
ing of  dubious  heads.  This  trial  of  the 
practicability  of  the  scheme  at  Evan- 
ston was  the  first  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  and  unless  we  are  mistaken 
the  first  in  America  in  a public  library. 
The  idea  is  so  everlastingly  right  that 
in  course  of  time  it  will  -become  a very 


live  topic  in  every  library,  as  librarians 
will  mournfully  admit,  while  groaning 
aloud  as  to  where  the  money  is  to  come 
from. 

At  Evanston  they  prepared  a special 
room  on  the  second  floor,  with  walls  as 
nearly  soundproof  as  possible — although 
Miss  Lindsay  said  that  her  secretary, 
whose  room  is  directly  underneath, 
never  needs  to  be  told  when  it  is  4 o’- 
clock— and  within  were  placed  a piano, 
a pianola  and  something  over  500  rolls. 
Daily  from  12  to  1:30  and  4 to  6,  and 
Monday  and  Thursday  evenings  from 
7 to  9,  the  entire  collection  is  at  the  dis- 
posal of  all  having  regular  library  cards, 
but  the  pressure  is  so  great  that  they 
have  had  to  limit  the  time  of  each  indi- 
vidual to  twenty  minutes.  Also  it  is 
necessary  to  make  application  in  ad- 
vance, sign  a card,  and  receive  a defi- 
nite appointment,  or  there  is  no  chance 
for  entrance  during  the  afternoon  hours. 

In  the  beginning  there  was  consider- 
able doubt  whether  these  rolls  would 
stand  the  wear  and  tear  of  such  usage 
as  they  would  receive,  but  experience 
has  shown  that  they  suffer  little,  which 
is  understandable  when  you  stop  to 
think  that  the  paper  is  scarcely  touched 
by  hand  at  all. 

It  goes  without  saying  that  the  col- 
lection was  made  for  educational  pur- 
poses and  that  nothing  is  admitted  to 
the  room  that  has  not  musical  value. 
Selections  of  the  best  in  pianoforte  lit- 
erature naturally  form  the  bulk,  but 
special  effort  has  been  made  to  provide 
arrangements  for  piano  of  the  music 
played  by  the  Thomas  Orchestra  and  of 


the  operas  given  by  the  Chicago  Opera 
Company. 


There  is  a complete  file  of  the  Thomas 
Orchestra  program  books,  as  well  as  the 
advance  announcements,  so  that  the  peo- 
ple can  tell  what  has  been  played  as  well 
as  what  is  to  be  played  at  the  next  con- 
cert and  familiarize  themselves  with  the 
standard  works. 

Young  and  old  go  to  the  music-room, 
some  for  regular  study,  some  merely  for 
the  pleasure  of  becoming  acquainted 
with  the  music,  and  Miss  Lindsay  says 
that  she  can  notice  two  distinct  facts, 
that  the  grade  of  music  desired  by  each 
individual  shows  a steady  refinement  of 
taste,  and  that  this  always  awakens  the 
desire  for  ownership. 


The  library  also  contains  over  1,300 
books  on  music,  100  opera  scores,  and 
nearly  400  pieces  of  sheet  music,  includ- 
ing much  for  four  hands,  and  many 
songs,  while  in  the  main  library  there 
are  500  more  books  on  the  subject.  The 
library  offers  to  the  average  student  all 
that  he  is  likely  to  need  for  a thorough 
knowledge  of  the  theory  and  history, 
though  for  deep  research  it  cannot  yet 
compete  with  the  older  institution  here 
in  Chicago.  But  as  a circulating  lib- 
rary for  the  student  and  amateur  it  is 
admirably  equipped. 

The  present  endowment  is  $5,000,  the 
interest  of  which,  after  the  upkeep  of 
the  room  has  been  provided  for,  is  ex- 
pended in  the  purchase  of  new  music 
and  equipment. 

Of  course  every  resident  of  Evanston 
can  obtain  a card  by  the  simple  process 
of  asking  for  one  and  having  his  appli- 
cation signed  by  somebody  who  lives 


in  a house,  but  its  use  is  not  restricted 
to  the  Evanstonians,  for  any  resident  of 
the  north  shore  can  have  all  the  priv- 
ileges by  the  payment  of  $2.50  a year, 
or  25  cents  a month.  You  can  go  to  the 
music-room,  examine  it  all  at  your  leis- 
ure, and  on  one  card  take  home  two 
works,  no  matter  in  how  many  volumes, 
and  two  rolls  for  the  pianola;  and  if  a 
piece  comes  in  three  rolls,  it  is  counted 
for  circulation  purposes  as  one  roll. 
The  books  you  can  keep  two  weeks, 
with  privilege  of  renewal  for  the  same 
period,  but  the  rolls  must  be  returned  at 
the  end  of  one  week,  without  the  chance 
to  renew,  which  distinction  tells  an  in- 
teresting tale. 

The  next  time  you  go  by  the  gray 
stone  building  in  Evanston  take  ten 
minutes  to  find  out  what  an  exceedingly 
lively  department  they  have  on  the  sec- 
ond floor.  If  you  are  interested  in  any 
branch  of  music,  they  will  have  some- 
thing that  you  would  like  to  know 
about,  and  they  will  gladly  show  it  to 
you,  or  let  you  browse  around  for  your- 
self, which  would  be  better.  It  is  all 
there  in  one  room  right  under  your  hand 
waiting  for  you.  Karleton  Hackett. 


ton  M>e* 


INQIS,  JANUARY  6,  1912 


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MEULSClEimOOM 


Founded  in  Honor  of  Dr.  Ed- 
ward H.  Webster,  Given 
to  Library 


TRIBUTES  PAID  TO  A MAN 


Loyal  Friends  Testify  to  Character, 
Ability  and  Heart  of 


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of  magazines  anc 
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$300  per  year. 

The  Evanston  1 
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next  Monday 

January  8th 

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$35  and  $40  Overcoats  $25 
$25  and  $30  Coats  $18.50 




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CUEMETTs  STOEGER 

DELICATESSEN 


fjMversity  of  Illinois, 
Library  School. 


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REAL  ESTATE  MEN 

USE 

► INDEX  WANT  ADS 


WHOLE  NO.  2065 


been  able  to  reach 
mds  and  patients  of 
nor  these  funds  have 
rho  will  want  to  be 
onor.  The  lists  are 
r,  and  the  funds  re- 
led  in  to  pay  the  in- 
is settled  after  which 
to  the  endowments, 
purchase  and  upkeep 
books  will  under  the 
t be  something  over 


GROWTH  OP  CITY 
SHOWN  IN  REPORT 


Decided  Gain  in  Value  of  New 
Buildings  in  Spite  of 
Strikes 


>rary  stands  alone  in 
the  fact  that  it  de- 
space to  public  ser- 
east  two  subsidiary 
id  in  successful  oper- 
time  the  first  music 
ever  installed  in  a 
h facilities  for  the 
lnJmast3rs  of  music 


WAS  GOOD  POLICE  WORK 


Automobiles  Regulated,  Stolen 
Property  Recovered  and 


